I’m disabled, and mobile gaming provides the perfect escape

I’ve been sick all my life. For the first 22 years, I didn’t realize how sick I was. That is until I started working in healthcare and discovered that it wasn’t normal to be in pain 24/7 (among other unpleasant symptoms). Honestly, it was almost a relief to know that not everyone felt this way, and that I wasn’t simply weak or lazy or hypochondriac, even if it meant I would have to deal with this for the rest of my life. .

However, despite multiple diagnoses and countless medications, I, like many other people with disabilities, still feel a sense of sadness for the life I could have lived had I been healthy, even though I am extremely grateful to have In this post. This is me. I spent my twenties trying to find a place for myself, often fighting myself when I tried not to “let my body win” – as if “my body” and “myself” were two separate entities.

Fortunately, there is one thing that has always remained constant in my life, no matter the highs or lows my chronic illnesses bring: gaming. Gaming introduced me to my amazing life partner, and I’ve been with him ever since (ten years and counting!). My love of gaming is what landed me this job – a remote job that I love and can excel at, even though I previously thought I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a “normal” work life.

Above all, my love for gaming is what has always, through good and bad, provided me with the escape I need. It offers me the opportunity to live the life I dreamed of but couldn’t, meet new people (virtual and real), explore distant lands, and overcome all kinds of trials, even when I’m stuck in bed yet. Another ignition. And with the rise Portable gaming consolesfrom Gaming phones And discs to Nintendo Switch And Steam Deck, this is truer now more than ever.

Hoyoverse alone has provided us with some of the Best mobile games In the past few years. Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Reeland Zenlis zero area They’re all huge games that are constantly expanding with updates, events, and new characters every few weeks.

From the music to the excitement of a new nation or planet to explore, the fact that such comprehensive experiences are now available in the palm of your hand is frankly wild to me, especially since I grew up in an era where cell phones looked like gray bricks. And “mobile games” were just that Play snake. Now, it’s expanding Genshin impact map It’s become my home away from home, allowing me to escape anytime, anywhere — including when I’m lying on the couch or sitting in the hospital waiting room or pharmacy.

Then there’s the final rush of Comfortable gameswhich was inviting people from all walks of life to discover the wonders of gaming (some for the first time). Games like Disney’s Dreamlight Valley, Hello Kitty Island Adventureand Infinity Nikki They are wonderful, low-risk experiences that can calm anxiety while keeping you occupied during difficult or stressful moments, and also provide a space for self-expression through features like customizable clothing and decorations.

In fact, Infinity Nikki in particular has become a great outlet for me to dress my character in clothes that I wouldn’t have the confidence or opportunity to wear in the real world, and I love it.

The Nintendo Switch has also been a huge game-changer in this regard. Despite its outdated hardware and current-gen limitations, the flexibility of converting from a home console to a lightweight portable device is invaluable when your health conditions worsen. Additionally, the ability to remove the Joy-Cons or attach a controller even in handheld mode allows me to lie down in whatever position I feel comfortable and play all day long.

But, despite my love for mobile and Switch, I can’t lie – I’m a PC gamer at heart. I have a few hundred Computer games on my Steam account, and I’m always looking for new accounts to add to my ever-growing library. So, naturally, I was thrilled when she was surprisingly strong Steam surface He arrived at the scene.

Even on days when sitting at my desk seems overwhelming, I can dive into most of my favorite games and pick up where I left off on my PC. Whether that’s riding a dolphin to an island sanctuary in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, tracking down Tobi-Kadachi in Monster Hunter: World, or playing across the world. Resident Evil games For the hundredth time, the breadth of experiences I can enjoy even on my worst health days has made things much easier to manage. With a mountain of pillows and a foldable phone holder for support, nothing could stop me (I highly recommend the Lamicall cell phone holder below – it folds very small and provides enough support to take pressure off your wrists during long gaming sessions).

Plus, thanks to the huge amount of titles available on Steam, from the most successful AAA titles to the best Indie games You never knew you needed it in your life, Steam Deck and other laptops have opened up the world of portable gaming beyond what you previously thought possible. Naturally, these cheerful Steam sales make stuffing your library less expensive than ever.

Even outside of gaming, mobile devices have been a huge boon to me over the past few years. My iPad, pen (like my Adonit Note + 2 Or Apple Pencil 2nd Gen), and Procreate helped me get back to art, which I had previously given up on (I actually drew the picture of the girl with the cat at the top of this page!). My phone allows me to read books, watch movies and TV shows, and even order medicine without having to sit down.

And I know I’m not alone – whether it’s mental or physical health, having access to all these digital tools has become an integral part of providing people with disabilities a sense of independence and allowing us to pursue hobbies and interests they may have. Otherwise it was out of reach.

I feel like a lot of people have realized the importance of escape in games during the dark years of the COVID-19 pandemic (I hope we never forget the massive impact Animal Crossing: New Horizons It was on the collective consciousness at the time.) But for those of us still living in some form of lockdown due to our health, the world of mobile gaming will never lose its relevance.

As I discussed previously in my country Interview with Christina Costello (Fellow disabled content creator and voice actor for Cooley Genshin Impact), there is still a long way to go towards representation and accessibility in games. But as technology continues to advance and bring more and more worlds to the palm of our hands, I’m happy to experience the comfort and escapism that mobile gaming can provide. Now, let’s just hope so Nintendo Switch 2 Lives up to the hype, okay?